I’m looking to buy a motorcycle in the ₹3 lakh range. I’m 5’11” tall, and my wife is 5’8”. We both weigh around 85 kg each. The bike will be used mostly for city riding, with very occasional highway cruising. I’m confused between the Royal Enfield Classic 350, Honda H’ness CB350, Honda CB350RS, and the Triumph T4. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•1d

For the best ride comfort, we'd recommend you choose between the TVS Jupiter 110 /125 and Suzuki Access models. Both have very good seating and suspension comfort but the Jupiter's larger 12-in rear wheel helps it round off bigger bumps a little better than the Access. The Jupiter's rear monoshock also has a handy winged preload adjuster which makes tailoring the suspension easier depending on the load you're carrying. The Access' upside is, that its seating position is more spacious and will serve taller riders better and its suspension composure is on par with the TVS. Take a test ride of both scooters to see which one suits you better and then make your decision.

Autocar India

•1d

Since you've mentioned that parking is a hassle and you rarely venture beyond the city's confines, the logical move would be to swap your Triumph Speed 400 with an Ultraviolette X-47 for your extended daily commute. Specifically, the Original Plus variant would be our recommendation because it has enough range for your use case and comes with an on-board charger which means you don't need to lug around the bulky charger with you wherever you go. While this is certainly the logical thing to do, you should still keep a couple of trade-offs in mind. You will lose the sensations, sound and character of a petrol engine and the ability to do a long, last-minute ride without planning charging stops. Also, Ultraviolette’s service and charging network is still smaller than established brands, though being in Bengaluru helps as the brand is headquartered here.

Autocar India

•6d

From a logical point of view, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 makes sense for your use case, which is primarily in the city. The Classic is a lighter machine and will be easier to manage in the city. In your case, it will also be a largely familiar machine since you're coming from an older Classic 350, and there won't be too much of a learning curve. Plus, in comparison to the Interceptor 650, you'll also get better fuel economy from the Classic.On the flip side, the Interceptor will be a far better machine for highway riding, and its twin-cylinder engine gives it a different character. If you're looking for a change of pace from your Classic, the Interceptor could be the perfect step up because, despite its added power and weight, it is still an approachable machine. The one thing you need to be mindful of on the Interceptor inside the city is its wide exhaust pipes, which will stick out in traffic.A test ride will reveal whether you should go for the Interceptor or the Classic.

Autocar India

•1d

Depending on your riding style, there are multiple different options to choose from in the segment you're looking at. If you're looking for a quick and sporty machine, then the 350cc Triumph Speed 400, KTM 390 Duke and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 make good sense because they have energetic performance as well as good comfort (the KTM bike will be a little less comfy than the Triumph bike in this one regard, but will have more performance). On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you prefer to ride in an unhurried fashion, then look no further than the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350, Honda CB350 models and Triumph Speed T4. These bikes have great comfort and should also be reliable in the long run.If you want something that prioritizes comfort and utility over all else, then an adventure bike is the way to go. You have the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, TVS Apache RTX 300 and KTM 390 Adventure models (with both 350cc and 399cc motors, depending on your needs and budgetary restrictions) in this class. In our opinion, as an all-rounder, nothing can match the versatility of the Himalayan and if you're comfortable with its size, this is definitely an option worth considering. As always, first decide what form factor appeals to you the most and will suit your usage best and then accordingly take test rides based on that before making your decision.

Autocar India

•2d

Since you have a rather long daily commute and don't want to go for a neo-retro machine, an adventure bike makes good sense. Your previously shortlisted - but no longer available - options indicate that you were looking to get something in the 250-300cc space. In that vein, we'd recommend you look at the TVS Apache RTX 300. The RTX is a comfortable, quick and feature-laden machine which will also return decent fuel economy if ridden sensibly. In a similiar vein, you should also look at the KTM 250 Adventure and the base 390 Adventure (350cc) models, depending on your usage and budget. A test ride of these options will help you narrow down which bike is best for you.

Autocar India

•1d

In your budget, we'd suggest considering either the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V or Bajaj Pulsar N160 for your use case. Both bikes have refined, punchy engines, good seating and suspension comfort and will also return good fuel economy when you ride sensibly. One point to bear in mind is that if you're a taller person, the Apache's seat-to-footpeg distance can feel a little cramped, in which case opting for the more spacious Pulsar will be our recommendation. If the sporty look of these two doesn't appeal to you and you want a simpler, more affordable machine then the Honda Unicorn is a tried and trusted option that's very hard to go wrong with. We'd recommend taking a test ride of all three before you make your decision to understand each one's strengths and weaknesses.